THE JEWISH WESTERN BULLETIN Page 2 Thursday, April 22, 11948
Nisan 13 5708
The Jewish Western Bulletin
Official Organ of the Vancouver Jewlah Administrative Organlzatlm
NORMAN KLIMAN .... Chairman, Bulletin Gommitiee
GOODMAN FLORENCE.....Editor and Publisher
HARRY MUSIKANSKT......Advertising Manager
Published Weekly Every Thursday at
2675 OAK STREET - - CEdar 1168
BusInesB Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Saturday and Jewish Holy Days Entered as Second aass Mall Matter at Ottawa
Western Pxiatlaff Co. IML. <i^^^ se 429 W. Peadez St. FA., 4739
VANCOUVER, B.C., CANADA, THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1948
LET'S PAY THEIR WAY TO THE PROMISED LAND
The Jews who were delivered out of bondage in Egypt discovered when they arrived on the far side of the Red Sea that many trials still lay before them.
They hungered, and God gave them bread. They thirsted, and God made the bitter water sweet. They wandered in the wilderness forty years before they entered the Promised Land.
The 1,500,000 Jews who survived the Nazi slaughter also have discovered that liberation is not enough. Like the Jews of ancient Egypt, most of them are wandering in the wilderness of doubt and despair—barred from the Promised Land. : ^^^j
Three years after the end of the war, 250,000 Jewish DP's still are waiting for deliverance from the swamp of indecision and inactivity. Three years after the end of the war, almost a million Jews in Europe find themselves in -intolerable poverty; three years after the end of the war, the 700,000 Jews of Palestine are engaged in a life and death struggle for their existence as a peojple and as a nation. .
The United Jewish Appeal is the answer of Canadian Jewry \to the unprecedented need of European Jewry and to the requirements of the nascent Jewish state. To meet these needs the UJA has undertaken a campaign unparalleled in the history of voluntary welfare agencies in Canada.
The United Jewish Appeal is seeking $250,000 in its 1948 "Year of Destiny" campaign to provide food and clothing, shelter and medical care, to those who have lost everything during the war years; to renew old skills and teach new ones to the displaced Jews in preparation for normal productive lives; to assist in the reconstruction of Jewish life in Europe wherever possible, and to transport to Palestine, the United States and other countries the hundreds of thousands of Jews who cannot remain any longer in Europe.
But the United Jewish Appeal is not omnipotent. It cannot work miracles.
The UJA depends on us to provide the funds its major agencies—the Joint Distribution Committee and the United Palestine Appeal—^need to accomplish their program of overseas relief and reconstruction; the settlement, building and defense of Palestine.
We cannot permit the 1,500,000 Jewish survivors of Europe to perish of neglect. We cannot permit the 700,000 Jews of Palestine to go down in a welter of blood and lost hopes. If one life, anywhere, is lost through indifference, not one life, anywhere, is safe.
We cannot permit anyone, anywhere, to live in doubt and fear, else the fate of our whole civilization will hang by a thread.
Not only the Jews of Palestine, but Jews everywhere, are engaged in the greatest struggle for Jewish freedom since Moses led the Jews out of Egypt.
We, among the peoples of the Western Hemisphere, are the most fortunate in the world, for our lands alone, of all the major nations, did not tremble under the impact of a ruthless foe in the recent war, our cities were not devastated, our homes were left intact.
We, the Jews of Vancouver, can do our part by supporting the $250,000 "Destiny Campaign" of the United Jewish Appeal which will go a long way toward a lasting solution of Jewish homelessness, and the creation of a state which the uprooted Jew can call his own.
We must give generously now, if it is to do the most good.
Let us individually celebrate Passover—thank God for our manifold blessings—and plan to pay a generous premium for the insurance which we will buy—that will protect the remaining homeless of Europe and strengthen those who fight in Palestine that we here may be enabled to hold our heads high—and to live as free and generous people.
By Babbi David C. Kogen
Below is part of the talk entitled "Fettered Freedom" that I delivered in the Passover broadcast sponsored by the Labor Zionists over CKMO, Sunday, April 18th.
. . . Even as I speak to you today, almost three years after the United Nations' victory in Europe, 250,000 Jews still languish in the infamous DP camps. I wonder how they regard the forthcoming Passover holiday, the Jewish festival of freedom. Perhaps the holiday of freedom makes them even more anxious to leave the DP camps, to leave the continent of Europe which has become one vast graveyard for their families and the entire Jewish people. Surely, Passover must imbue them with a renewed determination to become part of a great exodus—away from the DP camps—^into new lands of freedom.
"But here we come to the most ironical and tragic aspect of the whole situation. These Jewish Displaced Persons have^ no place, to go. Canada permits a few to enter. The United States is proportionately less generous. But most gates are barred! Commission after commission has studied the sad lot of the DP's. Recommendations have been made, but nq positive results have so far been achieved.
"Seeing that they are not wanted in any of the democratic countries, the overwhelming majority of Jewish Displaced Persons have decided that their only solution
lies in immigration into a land that is theirs by right, not by sufferance. They have decided that come what may they are going to form a new exodus to the land of their fathers the land that God promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They know that this little country at the eastern end of the Mediterranean was promised to the Jewish people in the Balfour Declaration of the
British Government in 1917 and guaranteed by international treaties. They know, too, that little Palestine has been made to yield a harvest in the desert by Jewish industry and labor during the last generation. And, most important of all, they know that in- Pales-tin they are wanted and will be welcome. When they were asked by the Anglo-American Commission where they want to go, they answered, 'Only Palestine!' And when they were asked in an UNRRA survey to give a second choice to Palestine, many wrote 'Crematorium.' . "
"Within Palestine itself we find a commimity of 70,000 Jewish men, women and children with healthy instincts of free men, defending their very lives, for they are being attacked daily by imported thugs. Unlike their ancestors at the Red Sea, Jews in Palestine fight, for they are free men. On November 29, 1947, the United Nations General Assembly ruled by an overwhelming vote to partition Palestine into two separate states, one for the
WHY SHOULDN'T YOU GIVE?
We hear that some of the folks around towh who everyone think have the "money"—are really hollering because the "assessment committee" of the UJA have taken the talk of their affluence as gospel and figured that to reach our commitment of $250,000 we've got to ask each one of the "big boys" to back up the fight with "cash."
One would think.that some of the "big fellows" would swell up with pride if they were judged to be worth say, "a quarter of a million" when they were actually the owner of only "one hundred thousand."
Wonder how much a fellow has to have before he really feels secure or does making money become an obsession? Surely anyone with assets of $50,000 or over can afford to give at least $1000 this year when the need is so great. There may be doubts as to the value of some of our planning for the future of Jews—^but there can be no doubt that the money that has been raised in recent years has saved hundreds of thousands of human beings, Jewish men, women and children, who may otherwise have been added to those "six million."
It is so diffciult to keep aware of the fact that, "but for the Grace of God" we too, may have ended up as soap and fertilizer—it is not a pleasant thought, but it is an essential thought.
We must remember all we are asked to give is money— others are giving their all.
If we believe in our ability to earn then we must not fear the future too much, for if "Free Enterprise" works then we will be well off—if "Socialism" supersedes, then
Arabs and one for the Jews, and to set up a special government for the city of Jerusalem and its surrounding area. Unfortunately, the partition plan was adopted by the United Nations without adequate provision for an international army to enforce it. The Jewish militia, the Haganah, could hold its own, if it were legalized and permitted to bear arms and to buy ammunition.
"The situation in Palestine today defies all rules of logic. The Arab guerrillas, who are bent on obstructing the partition plan of the United Nations, receive all the ammunition they want from the surrounding Arab states who, in turn, are being supplied by the mandatory power under the provision of an old treaty. At the same time, the Jewish militia, whose task it is to protect the community from these armed murderers, who want to nullify the U.N. decision, cannot buy arms- because of a United States embargo on all arm shipments to the Near East.
"The Jewish Haganah forces are fighting not only in self-defense, but also to uphold a decision of the United Nations, In this fight to uphold a U.N. decision, the Haganah is in a very real sense fighting for the honor of the United Nations, for U.N. prestige, for U:N: influence in shaping the peaceful world of tomorrow.
"This Passover, on the festival of freedom, the Haganah men are fighting to keep th6 whole world free and peaceful. These brave young men and women of the Haganah know that in every generation the struggle for freedom must be carried on. On this Passover holiday they remember the words of the Passover service: 'In every generation each Jew should regard himself as though he were brought out of Egypt.' The Haganah men
know what this sentence means. The story of the exodus from ]Rgypt is an ancient tale* but this sentence admonishes us to regard this experience as an ever contemporary one.
The Haganah fighters realize that the liberation from slavery is not to be regarded as a remote, impersonal episode that our ancient fathers alone experienced. It is to be felt as a contemporary, personal experience by each Jew in every age. In order to place full value on the need for freedom in life, each Jew in each generation is not only to retell the story but is also to re-experience individually and personally the sorrow of slavery that our fathers had to suffer and the exhiliration of freedom that our fathers later enjoyed. Haganah fighters, many of them former DP's, know what the exodus means. Viewed through their eyes, Israel's redemption from Egjrpt is a contemporary affair. It, becomes one and the same thing as the struggle to establish a third Jewish commonwealth in Palestine and the effort to establish a world of freedom, justice and peace.
"At the close of the Seder, the Passover service in the home, we always recite the Hebrew verse, 'Lashana Haba-a Birushalayim,' which may be interpreted to mean: 'May the coming year witness the rebuilding of Zion and the redemption of Israel.' This year the sentiment is even more significant than ever. The Jews of Vancouver join their coreligionists all over the world in the free, English-speaking countries; in the Displaced Persons camps, and in the Holy Land—in this prayer for Zion:
" 'May the coming year witness the rebuilding of Zion and the redemption of Israel.' AmeUi"
only our good deeds will count—so give!
-G.F.
100 Canvassers Plan Monster UJA Drive
One hundred canvassers for the United Jewish Appeal met Wednesday and planned the biggest onslaught for the biggest drive for funds in Vancouver Jewish Community's history.
It was the first meeting to be held by the canvassers for the 1948 United Jewish Appeal which will start May 2.
The appeal, a combination of the JDC and UPA,-has set its quota at ONE QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS, that is, $250,000.
The meeting was a sort of "pep rally" and "explanatory meeting" intended to educate the canvassers in technique for collecting the funds so necessary in this fight to save world Jewry.
Chairman of the UJA, Harold Freeman, Dave Nemetz,. Max Waterman, Moe Cohen and Norman Brown outlined the importance of a successful campaign.
They reminded the men gathered at the Community Centre that this is a year of decision—a year of destiny in the turbulent history of Jewry.
Captains of the canvassers all under the chairmanship of Leslie A. Raphael, are Harry Weinstein, Dr. Sid Kaplan, Albert Miller, Myer Goldberg, Billie Gel-man, Dr. Saul Gelfand, Sam Lipson, Al Omson, Al Zlotnik, Morrie Saltzman and Bob Levi.
We are just wondering if you thought of inviting a stranger to your Seder. There are many among us who have neither home nor relatives and you can earn no greater "T\/ri+7vah" than to have a wayfarer at your table.
The Editor glowed with pleasure Tuesday night at 10:30 p.m. when he was asked to sign for a "Special Delivery Letter" at the Community Centre Office where he had gone to pick up the material for this "Bulletin"—you know, of course, the deadline for copy is still 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday of each week—and that is cutting it pretty fine to produce a good weekly newspaper.
Any way, bouquets to C.H.A.C. "Canadian Hebrew Active Club" for its cooperation—and for using good administrative sense.
We got a preview of an announcement that is being made this week: The publisher of the "Bulletin" being anxious to get our appreciated weekly newspaper into the hands of people who may enjoy and benefit from it is making an offer to send the "Bulletin" anywhere in the world during 1948—for only $1.00.
We are sure many of our friends and relatives and even our non-Jewish friends and business associates will enjoy reading it. The publisher says he has had many requests from non-Jewish friends for the "Bulletin"
attention. I
f
▼ by
KOCH LEFFEL
and he sees that they get it.
We're still waiting for an announcement in connection with improvements in administration of the Community Centre. We hear that the new committee intends to take an active interest. Money will have to be spent to get the building in good habitable and sanitary condition.
And we've got to have someone in attendance in the Centre office over a longer period each day ... for those teen-aged youngsters have to be supervised ... for instance, Sunday night their yowling constantly made it impossible to continue a meeting in the lounge-room . ... it was disconcerting . . . and even Dave Nemetz could not put them to shame . . .too many of these youngsters are allowed to loll around in the hall of the Centre. If they must laze around their parents ought to provide the place . . . otherwise we will have to remove those chesterfields . . . their sprawling attitudes, even of some of the young girls, should not be tolerated in public ... We have noticed a remarkable improvement in many who
apparently needed only the hint that was given previously, for they behave better and dress better especially "at public affairs. * « «
That "little incident" surrounding the handling of our Jewish Flag—which occurred on Tuesday night at the B'nai B'rith meeting following Magistrate Oscar Qrr's talk—could, after sincere discussion, end in "Big results."
We have never known the publisher to so glow with pride and pleasure as when he was reading the copy for the AZA Totems No. 646 column and noted a little item that tells of these young fellows planning to take the "old folks" at the Vancouver Home for the Aged for a car ride. See their column for the dope . . . and we hope others will follow their example ... It has always seemed strange to us that although the Jewish Men's Cultural Club and its' Ladies' Auxiliary have spent time and treasure building the Home and furnishing it so comfortably and providing food and home care, yet they have never gotten around to arranging for regular drives or outings for
the old folks. It is pleasing to see the younger fellows set an example. There is much the young girls of this community can do of like nature . . . and from which they Can derive much of real value ... it is stimulating especially in "this year of our destiny," when even the least encouragement is needed.
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Let us hope that the man we get to replace Jimmy Morris when he leaves will be as much interested in the welfare and earn to so fine a degree the confidences of the young people who frequent our Community Centre. He has been at once their confidant, their mentor and instructor—and above all the protector of some of them. His handling of them has been a revelation in boys' work. We are sure many of our young people will have cause to remember him after they have
arrived at adulthood.
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The Dinner and Dance of the Cultural Club at the Schara Tzedeck on April 18 was a revelation to many. The sight of men and women, many weighty and in their fifties and sixties—really having a good time and indulging in the old time peppy dances, swinging and hopping around—is inspiring and some of our younger folk should do a little thinking. Remedy indicated, is desire to give pleasure to others, desire to avoid grossness and clumsiness, time spent on instruction and practise and attention to posture.
YOU HAVE A VITAL ROLE IN THIS YEAR OF DESTINY